Edward Cullen’s secret- a not-too-awkward post.

I finished the third book of the Twilight series a couple of days ago. If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll know that it was moving a bit slow for me around page 429. Meyer delivered, I was mainly just getting board with the story (as one might after nearly 1,800 pages of reading). However, it picked up for me and began redeeming itself quite nicely, especially when I discovered why most girls (including Bella Swan) are so enamored by Edward Cullen. It turns out that his character, in my opinion, is one of the most chivalrous, moral, and patient pop culture figures of our time–keeping in mind that he is a fictional person. When Bella gets caught up in a moment where both could compromise their physical relationship–Bella decides to “go after” Edward with every alluring way she knows–Edward on the other hand wants to wait until they are married, he wouldn’t even touch or look at her in a way that was inappropriate. It was a surprise to read and it’s not often that you see this character on television or in books. It was refreshing. One might wonder if boys like Edward still exist. (I would have to say yes—forgive me for being a mush pot–because I’ve found one, his name is Coy and he respected my physical space like a true gentleman.)

It seems unlikely for teenagers and young adults to air their physical commitments to sexual purity on their blogs and facebooks, but I’m convinced that there is a population of guys (and girls) who truly desire to save something special—but who are also finding it challenging–who are willing to give it up because it’s easier to give in to the inner struggle. Edward’s character is a vampire and he seems to posses some other-worldly strength. But I know there are real, live, young, and beautiful humans today making decisions to “wait”.

Later on in the book, we read that Edward attempts to compromise. There is a moment when he throws all caution to the wind–you see him for a brief moment just wanting to live in the moment. (Sound familiar? We’ve all been there.) He decided to give Bella what she wants. At that point, she wants to do the right thing and wait. Meyer deserves praise for not ignoring the conflict that is real in most of us. I’m not sure how many girls would have hedged their metaphorical Edward off at that point.

I have to say that I believe in a God that saves and give us strength to persevere through trials and temptations. I am not perfect and have had my fair share of compromise. But, I know this particular strength firsthand as I was able to keep some things sacred for Coy–I’m not saying it was easy by any stretch of the imagination–but possible. This is why I was impressed with make-believe Edward and Bella–the story can encourage all of us (no matter how far we’ve gone) to choose selflessness over selfishness.

No matter how melodramatic the Edward/ Bella relationship has become, the story brought something pretty valuable to the table–that there are some things worthy waiting for.

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Not my writing, but exactly what I would say if I had written it:This kind of evaluation demands a closer look at the merits of the Twilight series. That the story (at least the first book) centers on obsession is undisputed (obsession continues in the other books, but action and suspense become an equal focus). Bella is somewhat of an outsider at her new school. Even when she makes friends, they tend to be annoying; they are typical high school students, and she seems to be more mature. Once Edward enters Bella’s life, her peers only seem to get in the way, and there is an unmistakable air of superiority about her. Bella’s entire life becomes consumed with Edward, but even more so with her own happiness; she is willing to displease Edward to ensure that they can be together for eternity. She is willing to do anything to be with Edward and cannot bear the thought of being away from him for even a moment. Edward reciprocates and with his supernatural powers is able to arrange his life to be with Bella every waking moment. He is even able to sneak unnoticed into Bella’s room at night and watch her while she sleeps. Once Bella discovers this fact, rather than being repulsed and feeling violated, she begs him to come every night. The two often lie in bed fully clothed while Bella sleeps.

I can only imagine that the lack of sexual contact in this setting is what leads so many Christian women to defend the beauty of such an arrangement. But I have to wonder what mother would want such a scene to be played out in her own daughter’s life and bedroom at age seventeen (or at any age, for that matter). The problem, of course, is that Meyer portrays this obsession as normal, natural, and beautiful. The scenes describing Edward and Bella’s fixation on each another are masterfully written to depict the kind of relationship many a young girl desires to have—a ridiculously handsome guy worships the ground she walks on and devotes his every waking moment to romancing her. And while this fantasy (and that is what it is) appeals to some legitimate desires hardwired into every female, the result is a twisted picture of love, romance, and worship. The problem is not that Edward and Bella are made for each other; the problem is that they idolize one another. The sense of idolatry is hard to miss. Edward is Bella’s whole world; there is nothing else. There is no balance, no sense of reality to this love; yet it is portrayed as ideal. This singular focus on Edward, sure to captivate the already vulnerable hearts of adolescent girls, can easily lead to a view of love that is singularly unbiblical.

Want to be clear: I’m not defending “the beauty of such an arrangement”. However, I do wonder what would happen if Christians analyzed other things in their lives as closely as this book series and other similar things. What changes would we make regarding how we live, what we do with our time, our money? A question I often wrestle with…

I really think you ought to read the article by Stephen Ross at http://www.equip.org/articles/the-twilight-saga. You might actually feel differently about the whole series if you knew a little more about the author, as well as her design or intent of the series. Let me know what you think after you read it, please & thank you.